Running Mate Of Murdered Ecuador Candidate Fernando Villavicencio To Run For President In His Place

Ecuador President Candidate: Andrea Gonzalez, the running mate of slain Ecuadorian Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio will run for president in his place.

Ecuador Elections: The running-mate of the murdered Ecuadorian politician, Fernando Villavicencio, will be running for the presidential election in his place, reported BBC. Villavicencio was recently fatally shot three times in the head after a campaign rally in Quito. According to BBC, the police said that all suspects are Colombian. Now, his Construye party has said that it would put Andrea Gonzalez forward as its presidential candidate. 

The party further said that it was also in the process of choosing a vice-presidential candidate for the August 20 election. 

36-year-old Gonzalez has mainly focused on environmental issues throughout her career, and she is due to take part in Sunday's presidential debate in the capital. While making the announcement of her candidature, the party said she would "guarantee the legacy" of Villavicencio "and millions of Ecuadorians will accompany her in this purpose", as per the BBC report. 

59-year-old Villavicencio, a former journalist and member of the country's national assembly, was shot three times in the head after he left a public event in the capital on Wednesday. BBC stated that one attacker was killed in an exchange of fire with police while several others escaped. 

The incident shocked that nation that has faced decades of drug-gang violence, cartel wars and corruption. According to the BBC report, crime has shot up in recent years, backed by the growth of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels. 

Notably, Villavicencio's campaign focused on corruption and gangs. He was one of only a few candidates to allege links between organised crime and government officials in Ecuador, the report added. 

Giving details on the developments in an investigation over his murder, Interior Minister Juan Zapata said on Thursday that six suspects had been arrested.  

Villavicencio was married and had five children. He was one of eight candidates in the first round of the election, as per BBC.  

Meanwhile, the party said that the candidate for the vice-presidency would come from "the most trusted of those who have shared the struggles of comrade Fernando Villavicencio", as quoted by BBC.